Warner Bros. Discovery(US:WBD) 智通财经网·2025-12-11 14:10Group 1 - Three Middle Eastern funds have committed $24 billion to support Paramount's hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, but the actual exposure may be higher due to ongoing financial ties with private equity firms [1] - The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and Qatar Investment Authority have partnered with Abu Dhabi's L'imad Holding Co. to provide funding for the acquisition, indicating strong financial backing from wealthy Gulf nations [1][2] - The involvement of Apollo Global Management, which is providing up to $54 billion in financing for Paramount's bid, highlights the interconnectedness of these funds with global acquisition activities [1] Group 2 - The recent actions of Middle Eastern investors underscore a long-standing trend of these entities becoming significant financial supporters in global transactions, with Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth funds investing a total of $82 billion last year, accounting for over 60% of global sovereign wealth fund investments [3] - The potential acquisition of Warner Bros. would enhance the soft power of Middle Eastern investors, granting them stakes in well-known assets such as HBO and CNN [3] - The total sovereign wealth of the three countries exceeds $3 trillion, and this transaction marks a rare collaboration among them [3] Group 3 - Paramount launched a hostile takeover bid on December 8, offering $30 per share for Warner Bros., totaling approximately $108.4 billion, claiming it provides higher value and faster transaction certainty [4] - Warner Bros. board is currently reviewing Paramount's proposal while still recommending the deal with Netflix, which has reached a preliminary agreement to acquire Warner Bros. for about $82.7 billion [4] - Both transactions face scrutiny from U.S. antitrust regulators, raising national security and political concerns due to the involvement of foreign sovereign wealth funds [4]